3 August 2022, Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor- Welcome Record

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You may have read or heard that Council is partnering with local businesses and community leaders in a pilot project that aims to attract skilled migrants to the shire – specifically Maryborough.

Importantly, this project will also add cultural richness and diversity which is a goal in our Community Vision.

The partnership is a response to staff and skills shortages, which Council recognises are affecting big and small businesses – both locally and nationally. Council recently conducted a study of issues our employers were facing and that showed that over two thirds of employers had difficulty or serious difficulty attracting staff.

Woking with our business and community partners, Council is determined to meet this challenge head on and assist our employers to source employees for these jobs that they can’t fill, many of which are providing services which our community want, need and value.

The pilot project – Welcome to Central Goldfields – aims to support successful relocation to the Shire. It will assist Council in making a stronger case to government on workforce and housing needs.

It’s an ambitious but exciting opportunity to create a long-term plan to ensure the needs of our current and future workforce are met.

But this is so much more than jobs. It’s an opportunity to learn and grow with our new residents.

Our business and community partnership will ensure it responds to real needs and ensures community ownership. It’s about filling actual skilled vacancies which can’t be staffed. The challenges in housing and accommodation are no greater than if these vacancies were filled by employees from external locations through other processes.

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